Green Jobs and Skills Market Assessment in Dhaka City for Urban Green Graduation Programme. At Concern Worldwide

Programme Background:

Concern Worldwide is an international non-governmental humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries. Currently working in 25 countries and in Bangladesh, working for more than four decades since 1972 in urban and rural areas, addressing health, nutrition, inequality, and disaster risk reduction, among others, to alleviate extreme poverty in the country. Concern Worldwide has been actively engaged in the Urban Context for many years, working with the most vulnerable and marginalized groups particularly those who are living in the pavement, squatters and in undeveloped slums. Our mission is to enhance the economic and social well-being of these groups by addressing the root causes of extreme poverty. Presently, in collaboration with SEEP, Nari Maitree and Coalition for the Urban Poor (CUP), Concern is embarking on a five-year-long (2023 to 2027) livelihood graduation programme within the Dhaka South and Dhaka North City Corporation areas. The initiative, titled: “Urban Green Graduation Programme (UGGP),” and the overarching objective of this program is to enable these households to full fill their basic needs sustainably and to develop enhanced coping mechanisms through green jobs and enterprises that prioritizes the preservation of the natural environment. Irish Aid is providing necessary financial support for implementation of this endeavour.

Currently, Concern Worldwide is extending an invitation to qualified and dedicated organizations, institutions, and development professionals. The purpose is to gather comprehensive narrative and financial proposals for the execution of an assessment on available and potential Green Job Market and green enterprises within Dhaka City.

Programme Objectives:

The Green Graduation programme will address the underlying causes of poverty experienced by the urban people living in conditions of extreme poverty. The programme participants of this programme are living in conditions of extreme poverty and the most vulnerable, who have the most precarious living arrangements, struggling with low paid jobs/employment those who have the least access to basic services (WASH, health care, education and social services), moreover, they are the people who face discrimination, isolation and exclusion, based on their economic condition, their caste and religion. Within these communities, female headed households, people with disabilities, elderly, adolescent girls and children, face additional layers of inequality, risk and vulnerability. The shocks and vulnerabilities these communities face include, fires, waterlogging and forced evictions, further disrupting their lives. They are often people who have moved to the city due to the impact of natural disasters because of climate impacts.

The overall objective of the programme will be achieved through sets of interventions as outlined below under each of the outcomes of the programme logic.

Outcome 1: Improved food security of Graduation households

Outcome 2: Increased financial security

Outcome 3: Improved access to affordable, accessible and appropriate financial services and increased savings

Outcome 4: Improved social cohesion and social capital including status of women

Outcome 5: Improved environmental protection and sustainability

Outcome 6: Concern generates evidence that Green Graduation sustainably improves the wellbeing of participants and improves environmental protection and sustainability and influences the policy agenda on social protection and economic inclusion

Outcome 7: Crisis affected households are able to meet their immediate needs related to a disaster/shock within the program areas

Purpose of the Green Enterprise/Job Market Assessment:

The purpose of the assessment

The purpose of the assessment is to explore and understand the current practices, opportunities and gaps around green skills, enterprises/jobs in Dhaka city corporations where urban extreme poor living on the pavement, squatters and in undeveloped slums can be engaged. Nature of the green jobs and enterprises may range from urban horticulture to waste management, re/upcycling of plastic wastes, waste paper, and electronic waste to other materials that can be transformed to useable products and resources from harmful, environmentally degrading materials through appropriate application of technologies, moulding and /or physical transformation and market linkages.

Objectives of the study:

The overall objective of this study is:

• To explore potential options and opportunities of green jobs and green enterprises suitable for the urban extreme poor to engage them in economic options, including market and supply chain analysis. This should include a mapping of various stakeholders, including the private sector, who the project can collaborate and engage with for green skills development and enterprise development
• To analyse the green skills required for these jobs and enterprises and propose a suitable green skills development plan for the programme participants.

Specific objectives:

• To identify viable options of green enterprises/jobs clearly explaining engagement pathways for urban extreme poor living low income settlements in Dhaka City.
• Green skills needs assessment and a project-specific green skills development plan.
• Prepare a brief guideline outlining probable gaps and challenges and ways to address them along with feasibility analysis of each of the proposed green skills and enterprise development options.

Methodology

Conduct a green skills and job market assessment of relevant industry’s trade-skill gaps, job market, and skill providers in the Dhaka City area for priority sectors, and link this understanding to the current City Corporation/ Urban area level probable green job market and/or enterprises. The assessment needs to include both age and gender disaggregated information. A strong gender and inclusion lens is mandatory.

Qualified consultant will be responsible to propose and design a suitable methodology and develop tools required for data collection, analyse the data, interpret and present the results in a clear and consistent way.

Outputs and Deliverables

• Inception Report: After signing the contract with Concern, the consultant(s)/consultancy firm is expected to submit an inception report. This will provide a detailed plan of how the assignment will be carried out. The required structure of the inception report is outlined in Annexe 1.
• Design of Appropriate Data Collection Tools: The consultant(s)/consultancy firm is expected to design appropriate and culturally sensitive data collection tools to meet assessment objectives. This would include a mix of Qualitative or Quantitative data collection tools. A complete set of data findings is to be shared with Concern.
• Training: The consultant will be fully responsible to recruit and facilitate the training for the assessment team on data collection tools. The lead consultant/firm will also be fully responsible for supervising the assessment team and monitoring data collection in the field following Concern Worldwide Code of Conduct and associated policies.
• Logistics: The consultant(s) will be fully responsible for organising transport, accommodation and any other logistical requirements. Where support from Concern or its partners is required, this needs to be clearly outlined in the Inception Report and will be discussed and agreed upon by all parties.
• Feedback session: At the end of the fieldwork, initial feedback and debrief sessions with the project team and Concern management team.
• Final Assessment Report: The Consultant(s) is expected to produce a high quality, well-written final report in English, which does not exceed 20 pages (excluding annexes) with concrete sets of proposal for potential green skills and jobs, green enterprises feasible for the program participants of UGGP program and a green skills development action plan. Proposed green enterprises should be supported with clear feasibility analysis showing clear pathways of potential economic return on investments (ROI), benefits for the urban poor and environmental outcomes. The report should reflect and comment on all of the sections outlined in the objectives. The report will show disaggregated findings against each of the objectives both in tabular and descriptive formats. (Please see the final report template attached in Annex 2). The report should be on A4 size paper and in a legible font (e.g., Times New Roman 11, Arial11, or a similar print size). Soft copies of the final report (in Word and PDF formats) with complete data set (in Excel format, raw and cleaned) are to be submitted.
• Presentation of findings at a validation workshop with relevant sectors expert at two City Corporation level. This workshop will be organised by the project and the consultant will be required to present and support in the facilitation of the discussion.

Experience and Qualifications

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• A Masters or higher degree in Environmental Sciences, Economics, Business and Finance, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or other related to Private Sector Engagement, or Vocational Skills Training.
• Experience of working on or evaluating Livelihoods, Green Job Market Assessments, Vocational Skills Trainings, that ensures a strong gender equality and inclusion focus.
• In-depth knowledge of urban informal economic structures, vocational training structure, private sector engagement, including their commitments on low-carbon and green business and its challenges, relevant national policy and institutional arrangements.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in conducting market based, livelihoods, vocational skills training assessments of urban communities in the context of Bangladesh.
• Good understanding on urban development, livelihoods practices and the context where urban extreme population reside as well as clear understanding on multi-sectoral coordination, private sector engagement in vocational training systems as well as collaborative work with international and government agencies those relevant for promoting green enterprises and green jobs within the urban context.
• The Consultant should have previous experience of conducting similar study Urban context in Bangladesh
• Proven experience in conducting systematic research including evaluation using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Proven ability to apply a gender sensitive lens to all Safeguards.
• Consultant(s)/consulting firm should ensure proposed assessment team members have at least three years of hands-on experience of doing similar assessment. The team should be gender balanced.
• Preparation of good quality report and data presentation.
• Excellent report writing skill in English.

Desirable Experience & Qualifications

• Understanding of Concern’s policies and programmes.
• Experience with the INGOs or other development agencies in Bangldesh is an advantage.
• All team members are proficient in spoken and written English and Bangla.

Line of Communication: The consultant/consultancy firm will provide the report to Deputy Director Program/Livelihood Advisor and will liaise with Program Manager to receive information, feedback and support to organizing field study and data accumulation. The Programme Director will provide the strategic guidance to the consultant/consultancy firm and coastal team to accomplish the assignment with utmost standard.

Duration of Assignment: The total period of providing consultative services will be a maximum period of six (6) weeks. The contract will end with the approval and acceptance of the final report, following any feedback given by Concern. The consultant should propose the time required for the assignment based on the proposed methodology.

1. Review relevant programme documents and quantitative datasets and drafting of inception report
2. Kick off meeting with programme team, presentations on the project background and plans, gender transformative approach and Code of Conduct to be given by Concern.
3. Submission of an inception report for review and sign off
4. Finalisation of inception report and data collection tools based on feedback
5. Training of Assessment Team
6. Data collection in Project Locations
7. Data analysis and preparation of draft report
8. Feedback Session with project team
9. Draft report submitted for review
10. Finalize the report incorporating the feedback from the management of Concern Worldwide
11. Submission of the final report
12. Validation workshop (timing TBC)

Standard Terms

1. Duration: The total period of providing the consultative services will be over a period of 06 weeks starting from the date of contract signing.
2. Remuneration/Fee: Interested individual consultants/consultancy firms are requested to submit their financial proposal along with the technical proposal including cost of field travel and other relevant cost for the assignment for a period of maximum 6 (six) weeks’ consultancy*;* inclusive all VAT and Taxes as per policy of the government of Bangladesh, which shall be deducted at source prior to the payment. Expenses not specified in the financial proposal or not mentioned in any section of the agreement are the sole responsibility of the Consultant.
3. Payment: The consultant/consulting firm will be paid an agreed amount including VAT and tax for the total assigned service. Full payment will be made upon completion of the assignment as per the agreed ToR. The payment mode will be in three (3) instalments for the entire assignment against invoices issued by the Consultant:

• First instalment is 20% after the inception report is formally signed-off by the Programme Director.
• Second instalment of 30% of the payment will be made after submission of the draft report.
• The remaining 50% will be paid upon satisfactory submission and acceptance of the Final Evaluation report along with all accompanying documents/datasets as specified in the agreement.
• Concern will not be liable for any bank charges arising from incorrect bank details being provided to Concern.

1. Accommodation & Food Allowance: No accommodation nor per diem will be paid in addition to agreed consultancy fees.
2. Travel and Logistics: All costs related to the travel and logistics should be factored into the fees and all costs relating to the field survey and evaluation will be covered by the consultant during the assignment. Concern will facilitate the necessary arrangements to support the consultancy team for suitable accommodations and local transportation in the field areas during visit.
3. Copyright and Confidentiality: Concern Worldwide will have the copyright for all the documents prepared by the consultant(s) including questionnaires, survey formats, case studies, KII if any, pictures, videos and the final report with due acknowledgement. No part of the document should be reproduced or published any manner without prior written approval of Concern Worldwide. The consultant will maintain the confidentiality of the stated assignment.
4. Concern Worldwide’s Policies and Guidelines: Concern’s Code of Conduct (CCoC) and its associated safeguarding policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy, the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, contractors, visitors to the programme and partner organisations, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for and maintain the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Concern’s Code of Conduct and its associated safeguarding policies have been appended to this Contract for your signature. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct you demonstrate that you have understood their content and agree to conduct yourself in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.
5. Breach of Code of Conduct and Sharing of Information: We are required to share details of certain breaches of Concern’s Code of Conduct, specifically those related to fraud, sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment and trafficking in persons, with external organizations such as institutional donors, regulatory bodies and future employers. In the event where you have been found to be in breach of these aspects of Concern’s Code of Conduct, your personal details (e.g. name, date of birth, address and nationality) and details of these breaches will be shared with these external bodies. Organizations may retain this data and use it to inform future decisions about you.In addition, where we are working in partnership with another organization and where there are allegations of breaches in the above areas against you, we will cooperate with any investigation being undertaken and will share your personal details with investigation teams.
6. Responsibility: The consultant will be reporting to Deputy Director – Programme Implementation, Concern Worldwide and will support with Programme Manager to receive guidance, feedback and support to organizing field visit, ensuring data quality, validation, cross checking and analysis. The consultant will conduct field visit, qualitative data collections and stakeholder’s consultation during the data collection period. The Programme Director will provide the strategic guidance and oversight to the consultant to ensure high quality of evaluation report.
7. Safety and Security: It is a requirement that the Consultant will comply with Bangladesh security policy and in-country security procedures. Failing to comply will result in immediate termination of contract. The work plan will need to be flexible and have built in contingency plans that can be activated through mutual discussion with Concern and the partners on the ground. This will be especially important for activities that require fieldwork and face-to-face interactions.
8. Annexe 1: Structure of Inception Report

• Introduction
• The objective of the assessment
• Methodology
• Data collection plan
• Analysis Plan
• Limitations
• Detailed Work Plan (including any support needs from Concern for each activity)
• Staffing Plan
• Risk Assessment
• Budget
• Proposed Final Report Structure

9. Annexe 2: Brief Structure of Final Report

• Introduction
• The objective of the assessment
• Methodology
• Data collection and data quality management
• Findings
  • Viable options of green enterprises/jobs
  • Engagement pathways for identified green enterprises/ jobs
  • Forecasting of possible income/ month from identified green enterprises/ jobs
  • Identified specific green skill requirements (i.e., education level, previous experiences, age etc.)
  • Project-specific green skills development plan (How many/ which group/ type of the participants should take what type of skill trainings and which type of enterprises/ jobs to engage)
  • Brief analysis of identified gaps and challenges for each of the proposed green skills and enterprise development options (a comparative table is required with the analysis)
• Risk Assessment
  • Articulating the risk factors for identified green enterprises/jobs
  • Sensitivity analysis for each of the identified enterprises/ jobs based on the risk factors. Sensitivity analysis requires to identify deviation percentages (both increase or decrease) in income for the identified green enterprises/jobs due to the articulated risk factors.
• Recommendation
• Conclusion
• Annex
  • Qualitative data collection tools
  • Quantitative data collection tools
  • A complete set of data